The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael Cole and The Miz opened the show from ringside. They setup the Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler hype video. It was well done and worth seeing. Backstage Matt Striker asked Sheamus if he was concerned about Ziggler. Sheamus said no and called Ziggler a coward for clinging to the briefcase. He said he wouldn’t be afraid and would go on to win the Royal Rumble. Sheamus said Ziggler could bring anybody he wanted, Sheamus had a brogue kick for all of them.

Dolph Ziggler and company were shown walking backstage. Josh Matthews asked Ziggler a question I missed and Big E Langston chased Matthews off. He smiled at AJ and Ziggler and they decided they liked him again. Sheamus made his entrance as a video recapped The Shield jumping Sheamus during his match with Ziggler on Raw…[C]

Ziggler and company made their entrance…

Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler (w/AJ and Big E Langston)
The first two minutes were in the last quarter. Both men had early moments of control, but Sheamus settled in first and worked over Ziggler’s arm. Sheamus went for the Brogue kick. Ziggler saw it and bailed to the floor to avoid it…[C]

Back at 6:00, Ziggler continued in control. Ziggler hit back to back neckbreakers for a near fall and he took control. Ziggler hooked on a chin lock that Sheamus sold for a while. Sheamus finally stood with Ziggler on his back and dropped back, but Ziggler hit a standing drop kick to maintain control.

Ziggler hit his hair flip elbow for two. Sheamus had another hope spot that ended with him hitting the post. Ziggler tried to follow with a Stinger splash, but Sheamus moved and started his comeback. Sheamus went for White Noise, but Ziggler escaped over the rope. Sheamus hit his clubbing forearms instead. Ziggler slumped to the floor, and Sheamus hit a diving shoulder tackle from the apron…[C]

Back at 16:02, Ziggler kicked Sheamus in the ropes, but Sheamus knocked him back. Sheamus went for the slingshot shoulder tackle, but Ziggler jumped over him and hit a facebuster instead for a great near fall. Sheamus came right back and hit the Irish Curse back breaker for two. Sheamus hooked Ziggler in the Texas Cloverleaf, but Ziggler was near the ropes and made it there quickly.

Sheamus went for another set of forearms, but Ziggler reversed into a hangman move. Ziggler followed with a great missile drop kick for two. Sheamus kicked Ziggler away and muscled himself onto the top rope. Ziggler ran up and hit a super DDT for another great near fall. Sheamus powered away again and hit the top rope battering ram for yet another great near fall.

Sheamus hulked up for the Brogue kick. Ziggler ducked the first and went for a Superkick. Sheamus ducked that and hit the Brogue kick. Ziggler rolled to the floor and the ref started to count. Sheamus went after Ziggler. Langston walked over and they stared at each other. Ziggler rolled back in at the last second to beat the count…

Sheamus defeated Dolph Ziggler at 22:48.

Post-match, Langston teased getting in the ring with Sheamus, going so far as to climb onto the apron, but he finally smiled and left…The announce team hyped Wade Barrett vs. Zack Ryder and a replay of Rock’s return for next…[C]

A video recapped, rather than replayed, the Rock vs. Punk exchange from Raw…

The announce team hyped the return of the Rock to Smackdown this week…Wade Barrett made his ring entrance, followed by Zack Ryder…

Wade Barrett vs. Zack Ryder
Barrett took quick control and hit a pump handle slam for two. Ryder had a quick comeback moment, but Barrett hit him in the back of the head and knocked him to the floor…[C]

Back from commercial, Barrett remained in control. Ryder started his comeback and hit the forearm in the corner. Ryder went for the Broski Boot, but Barrett rolled to the floor. Ryder gave chase and Barrett rolled back in the ring. He hit a swinging side slam when Ryder ran in. Ryder hit a surprise neckbreaker for a good near fall.

Ryder hit the Broski Boot for another near fall and setup for the Rough Ryder. Barrett tossed Ryder over his head and Ryder landed on the ropes. Barrett followed with the Bull Hammer elbow for the win…

Wade Barrett defeated Zack Ryder at 11:27.

The announce team hyped Randy Orton vs. Antonio Cesaro for next week’s Main Event…